Chevrolet Repair: transaxel fluid, auto transmission fluid, 1992 pontiac lemans

Question
HI CJS HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ANSWER THIS I ASKED MARK THIS SAME QUESTION.BUT HE SAID IT WAS OUT OF HIS EXPERENCE I REAILIZE THIS IS NOT A PONTIAC SITE BUT THE GUY ON THE PONTIAC HAS BEEN ON VACTION FOREVER. ANY WAY HERE GOES.MY DAUGHTER TOOK OUT THE CLUTCH ON HER 1992 PONTIAC LEMANS 1.6 I CANT SEEM TO FIND ANY INFO ON IT ANYWERE. EVEN IN THE BREAF SECTION OF THE CHILTONS IT BEARLY COVERS IT. IT SAYS YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO DROP THE TRANSAXLE TO CHANGE CLUTCH YOU JUST HAVE YO REMOVE A PLUG ON THE TRANSAXLE THEN A CLIP AND USE A SLIDEHAMMER TO PULL OUT THE INPUT SHAFT FROM THE BACK OF THE TRANS AXLE (SWEET) THE ONLY PROBLEM THERE IS NO PLUG ON THE BACK I FOUND A COVER REMOVED IT AND I THINK I SEE WHERE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS APPARENTLY SOME SPECIAL CLIPS THAT YOU PUT ON THE CLUTCH AFTER DEPRESSING IT TO KEEP IT CLOSED WHILE YOU SLIP IT OUT.NOBODY UP HERE IN HICKVILLE HAVE EVEN HEARD OF THEM NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP(SCARY).ALSO I CANT FIND WHERE TO TOP IT BACK UP WITH FLUID OR WHAT TYPE TO USE. THERE IS NO DIP STICK,NO PLUG, NOTHING I CAN SEE TO TOP IT BUT OR CHECK IT.IT SAYS NOTHING IN THE BOOK ANY HELP WOULD GREAT CAUSE I AM STUMPED THANKS BOB.

Answer
Hi Bob,

I have put in a couple of days of trying to find you some information on  this.  NOTHING TO REPORT!!!  Sorry :-(

Your Lemans is actually not very popular.  Most people don't know much about that car.  I will try to find out more, and if I do, I will post a follow-up here.  

I did find out that special tool may be needed.  As far as type of fluid to use, ask the autoparts which is required.  Some use a light auto transmission fluid.  Most use gear lube, like 80-120.  You should see a plug externally located on the case, higher than the center line.  You would open a lower one to drain the fluid and the upper to replace.  Look for a rubber plug, or a pipeplug looking threaded insert.  You use a 3/8" ratchet to turn this type.  You know you are full when you put your finger in and can feel the liquid level.  

As far as the concept of changing the clutch without pulling trans...I don't like getting into things that can potentially mess me up.  This project that no one has heard of, no information on it, and may require special tools, qualifies as one of those potential projects.  When your daughter smoked the clutch, she also smoked the flywheel.  Depending on the mileage, the pressure plate has wear and worn springs.  It is not advisable to only change the disc.  The flywheel can chatter, or crack.  You want to turn that.  The pressure plate may not be worthy of another 70K.  

I will try to find out more, just for the interest.  But my advice is do the right thing.  Pull the whole clutch.  Turn the flywheel.  

Look for feedback on this.  Good luck.

C J S